Apple is one of dozens of defendants named in a new bizarre lawsuit that seeks a whopping $75 billion in return for claims of civil rights violations, conspiracy and fraud, to name a few.

The wild accusations from David Louis Whitehead of Bossier, La., are included in a 99-page complaint filed this month in a U.S. District Court in the Western District of Arkansas. Apple is included among a long list of defendants including numerous judges, U.S. presidents, Hollywood studios, celebrities and banks.

Apple's exact role in Whitehead's elaborate tale is unclear, but "Apple Computer Inc." is listed as a defendant that is alleged to have engaged in "outrageous and reckless and extreme acts against the plaintiff, with the massive theft of the plaintiff's copyrighted works, grossing millions if not billions of dollars."

The plaintiff believes much of that money was made as a result of talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, who is accused of promoting "several film projects" based on original writings by Whitehead.

Apparently a prolific writer, Whitehead has penned books, scripts and plays about a broad range of topics. For example, the subject matter of the Iran-Contra affair was apparently covered in his play "The Big Bad Wolf vs. Miss Little Red Riding Hood - The Mike Tyson Story." That fictional play features President George H.W. Bush "going after" boxer Mike Tyson after he makes "racial comments about America." Whitehead believes the elder Bush decided to target him after his play was published.

Whitehead has a long legal history in which he has filed countless lawsuits, many of which are cited in the latest complaint. He also believes that a number of presidents -- including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama -- have appointed judges to sabotage his relentless pursuits through the U.S. court system.

His latest lawsuit alleges that the film "Wag the Dog" infringed on Whitehead's college paper "International Law Regarding the Use of Force and Collective Security: A Comparative Analysis of the Korean and Persian Gulf Wars." Whitehead also claims the concept for the comedy "Austin Powers" was stolen from his original script "A New World." Actor Mike Myers is included in the suit.

Whitehead also believes his original work "God vs. Satan" was stolen by Mel Gibson and Twentieth Century Fox for the film "The Passion of the Christ." And he says rapper Sean "P. Diddy" Combs's idea for the fragrance "I Am King" was taken from his original play entitled "Erykah Badu in Paris With Momma Voodoo."

Also named in the suit are James Cameron, Tyler Perry, Microsoft, Sony, Harvard and Georgetown universities, the Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, Wachovia Bank, Black Entertainment Television, Comcast, and Viacom, to name a few. Whitehead has requested a trial by jury, $5 billion in compensatory damages, and $75 billion in relief.

As a major corporation, Apple is frequently the target of a number of lawsuits, legitimate or otherwise. "Regardless of merit, responding to such claims can consume significant time and expense," the company revealed in its annual Form 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2009.

In 2009, Apple was hit with a bizarre lawsuit that accused Apple and actress Sarah Jessica Parker of stealing the concepts and names for the iPod and iPhone in the 1980s. That same year, a man alleged in court that Apple conspired with the Italian mafia to secretly track him and transmit threatening messages to his iPod.

See reply #4 above you. This kind of crap doesn't occur anywhere else in the world, or at least no where near as frequently. They'd be committed somewhere else in the world, but heaven forbid we treat them as a crazy here.

force the parties to the law suit to show adequate assets in the event they lose.

Yeah, but that keeps the powerful in power and the weak in the mud. Maybe there could be a pretrial hearing to look at the allegations and based on the claims, or evidence present, someone could determine if it would proceed as a loser pays case?

Nothing would be worse than to have someone with a legitimate claim and limited resources to be squashed by a big company that simply out spent what he could muster in "adequate assets".

The problem isn't the guy filing the suit, or that the other side has to pay a lawyer. The problem is the system doesn't require a guy to provide any evidence of his allegation initially. That comes much later. Further, sometimes a case is so baseless on its face, but Judges don't dismiss the case when asked to early on.

I agree with your sentiment though. A loser pays system will result in many people who have been wronged not suing. People often have good cases, but lose nonetheless. Judges are people and multiple judges can rule different ways on the same issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlevier

Yeah, but that keeps the powerful in power and the weak in the mud. Maybe there could be a pretrial hearing to look at the allegations and based on the claims, or evidence present, someone could determine if it would proceed as a loser pays case?

Nothing would be worse than to have someone with a legitimate claim and limited resources to be squashed by a big company that simply out spent what he could muster in "adequate assets".

Whitehead also believes his original work "God vs. Satan" was stolen by Mel Gibson and Twentieth Century Fox for the film "The Passion of the Christ." And he says rapper Sean "P. Diddy" Combs's idea for the fragrance "I Am King" was taken from his original play entitled "Erykah Badu in Paris With Momma Voodoo."

He (should have) amended his lawsuit to claim that he is a space alien and represents an advanced race (of which he obviously not an example) which secretly gave all that technology and those creative ideas to the defendants.

...who secretly return to their reptilian form at night when no one is looking

The wild accusations from David Louis Whitehead of Bossier, La., are included in a 99-page complaint filed this month in a U.S. District Court in the Western District of Arkansas.

Sounds like someone has been drinking the Hooch again.

This will dropped very quickly (unless he sent some of that hooch to the local judges) because it is highly unlikely that, assuming he can prove the prior creation date, he can prove the offenders had access to his work before creating theirs. And that proven access is a major part of copyright claims. Apple et al will file for dismissal due to said lack of proof and if that isn't granted they could always counter sue to scare the guy off

This loser is beyond comprehension. I guess he'll find a reason to sue me for using the name maccherry.
maybe it came from one of his delusional plays.
"The day Godzilla farted in a field of maccherries".

Frank Chu needs to step up his game if he wants to match this guy for courtroom hours.

I was with my cousin and sister at 111 minnna and Frank showed up. since we were deep into libations at this point we decided to take Frank with us into a cab to the fairmont hotel bar and get him drunk. he is one bizarre fellow. I even interviewed him on my iPhone.